Khulna Range deputy inspector general (DIG) of police Abdul Aziz Sarker told The Daily Star that special combing operations began in Alamdanga, Damurhuda, Jibonnagar and Sadar upazila of Chuadanga and Shailkupa, Harinakundu and Sadar upazila of Jhenidah on Friday.

A total of 177 persons were picked up from the two districts.

Jhenidah police super Abdullah-al-Mahmud and Chuadanga police super M Khurshid Hossain are leading the joint forces of their respective districts. They are being assisted by additional police supers of the districts.

Apart from joint forces, policemen of 21 camps and two outposts of Chuadanga and 23 camps and three outposts of Jhenidah have joined the combing operations. Six platoons of Range Reserve Force (RRF) were sent to Jhenidah and Chuadanga from Khulna.